Steaming device



July'S, 1 952 S. COHN ET AL STEAMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 27, 1949 FIG. 2

VE TORS' .J'am 2,!-

{11/5' & afifer" ATTORNEYS Patented July 8, 1952 Samuel-Cohn'and- Jules G. Walter, New York, I N. Y.,.assignors to Samcoe Holding Corporation, Woodside, N. Y., a corporation of New York ' v i Application'september 27, 1949, Serial No. 118,086

This invention relates to the steaming of fabrics in finishing operations-and particularly to an improved apparatus permitting ;the. application of 'dry steam to both sides of thefabric simultanelower by the spreadenzdoes not receive identical I treatment, since the amount and temperature of the steam reaching the upper layer are less than the amount and temperature applied to the lower layer. 'As a result, the lower layer becomes wider and the edges roll or fcurl" so that the wind-up is poor and the material does not lie properly on the cutting tables. Also, many dyes are affected by .the differentialsteaming, so that the shade may vary in the two layers after finishing. Thus, under some. cutting conditionsone side of a garment may have a different shade from that. of the other side, a result which obviously is not-satisfactory and may lead to rejection of-the material. Furthermore, the stitch of the material may be altered in the two layers by the effect of the non-uniform application ofsteam to both layers.

It has not been possible heretofore to apply steam to the upper face of the fabric because, in projecting steam downwardly from the steam pipe, water condensedfrom the steam is inevitably delivered upon the face of the fabric, causing water spots. This is especially detrimental in the case of rayons, satins,-and other delicate fabrics. The presence of Water spots requires refinishing, with resultant additional expense.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved steam chest which permits the application of steam to the upper as well as to the lower surface of the fabric, with assurance that water resulting from condensation of the steam will not reach the fabric. Moreover, the oppositely directed steam jets may be arranged so that the pressure exerted by the steam is neutralized, and no pressure is applied to the fabric in a manner to distort it. Thu both sides or layers of the fabric will receive uniform steam application and the difficulties heretofore encountered are avoided. The invention, though .applicable particularly to tubular fabrics, may be ream. (01. 68-6) used for the treatment of single layers of fabric with similar results.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as itis better understoodby reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawing, in which. Fig. l is a transverse section througha steam chest embodying the invention; Fig. 21s a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration indicating the application, of the device to tubular fabric; and g Y Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the application of the device to a singlelayer of fabric.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates a steam pipe to which steam may bedelivered from; any suitable source and under the desired pressure. The pipe has downwardly directed openingsnfi and 1 through which the steam escapes. ,These opening are preferably placed so that their axes form approximately a right angle. -As indicated in Fig. 2, the openings 6 are graduated in size from the inlet end of the'pipe, becoming smaller toward the closed end so as to maintain a substantially uniform pressure within the .steam chest.

, The, steam chest comprisega channel'member 8 having legs 9 with downwardly turned ends 10 which form baflles as hereinafter indicated, and a channel member H with legs-=12. having .upwardly turned ends l3 which are slightly spaced from the legs 9 forming steam slots I4 through which the steam escapes. The channel members 8 and H are clamped between end members IS with suitable packing material [6 to ensure a steam tight joint by nuts I! on the pipe 5. The end member l5 at the end opposite the inlet is, as shown in Fig. 3, provided with a passage [8 with inlets l9 and 20 communicating with the space between the legs 9 and the spaces between the legs 9 and I2. An outlet 2| is provided to which a drain pipe (not shown) may be connected so that any condensate forming within the steam chest is continuously withdrawn.

In operation of the device, as the steam escapes into the inner chamber, it follows the direction of the arrows past the legs 9 and bafiles Ill. Any condensate resulting from partial cooling of the steam and expansion thereof will collect on the legs 9 and bafiles l0 and will drain back to the bottom of the compartment and escape through the outlet l9. The steam passing into the end compartments will follow the arrows and escapes through the steam slots [4.

The pressure of the steam within the outer compartments is higher than that of the steam passing through and escaping from the slots l4, and the upturned ends 13 are thus maintained at a sufficiently high temperature to prevent the formation of droplets of water in the slots l4. Any condensate which may form -'in the outer chambers drainsto the bottom'thereof and thence to the outlets 2B. Thus, any condensation of droplets of water in the slots i4 and the:

delivery thereof to the fabric is avoided, a result which could not be accomplished if the ste'am escaping through the slots was -,not surrounded by steam at a higher temperature; 'Conseu-uently, j

since only dry steam is deliveredthrough'the slots l4, it is possible to direct the steam down- 4 during finishing operations, assuring more uniform results than have been possible with apparatus heretofore available. 7

Various changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the apparatus without departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereofj. i 1 5 We claim. 7 1

1. In an apparatus for directing steam upon :ithe surface of a fabric, the combination of a pipe having perforations longitudinally spaced to permit the escape of steam and a housing .'.asurrounding thei pipe, the housing consisting of wardly upon the fabric being treated without danger of water-spotting the fabric Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawing t-he arrangement of the installation to treat tubular fabric .is indicated, two steam chests Hand 23 being arranged above and beneath tubularifabric 24 which is caused totravelrso that it :is subjectedto the jets ofesteam extending. transversely thereof and directed downwardly and upwardly against the twola'yers of fabric. It will benoted that the: jets are l opposed to .each other so that the pressure of thersteam isneutraLlized and 'is not, therefore, exerted'on the'fa'bricrinzasmanner such as todistort it. Uniform ttreatmeritiof" both layersrof the fabric .isirassured;"since the" jets of steam escapingfromithe chests 22 and 23 are at uniform pressure and temperature. In Fig. 5

.of the drawing-a similar installation is illustrated, in which the steam chests 25 and 26 are arranged so as to direct jets of steam downwardly and upwardly on opposite-sides of: a single layer of fabric 27; As inF-ig. 4,1118 steam chests are opposed to' e'ach other so that no pressure is exerted upon the fab-ric'a'nd both sides of the fabric are subjected; uniformly to theaction of the steam. 'As herinbefo're indicated, because ofthe structure of thefls'team chests, no-watercan escape-with the'steam jets The method ofand 'ap- 4 paratus for steaming illustrated in 'these Figs; 4

to mark the :fabric.

and 5 are described and claimed in our copending application Serial No; 257,088, filed-November The apparatus as described afiords a" 'very marked improvement in the steaming: of fabrics file of this patent:-

-' endwall :aninner channel member having legs,

an outer channel member having legs partially enclosing the inner channel member between the -end walls the legs of the inner channel member having inturned ends forming baflies and the -legs of the outer channel member having inturned ends in parallel relation to the legs of the inner channel :member; forming. :tliere'wiith slotsrfor the escape of: steam,.';and3meanscfor withdrawing 'condensatefrom the housingi- 1 .2. Apparatus according to claim ll indi'which the means for withdrawing condensate frormthe housing includes :means for withdrawing scon- :densate 'from :both the .inner zchann'elmemb'er and the outer channel member thereof. "f '7 .3. Apparatus acc'ordingto'iclaim liiniwhioh the perforations \innuthe pipe- :are :of' progressively Name. its

2124,481 7 Brown 1 Mai ill-11872 1,587,041: "Secord heel, 1-926 1,790,7A9i3 Hofstetterl Feb-3,1931 2,008,23011' Spanner July 516, 1 935 -\2;15,7;976 r wWolfenden May 9,- i1 939 -.-2=,270,'155.- Wil1e1r Jan.13,s1942 2,347,555; Greene n -Apr.25,:l944 ,:2,45,4,9D3 Weik lNov; 30', 1948 

